Audrey silently spat at him in her heart: Scumbag!
"Give her back to you? Since when did Alicia beco yours? Tch! And why did I just call the doll Alicia too?" Edward rubbed his temples and said, "You should be fully aware of how valuable that doll is. What I need your help with is far from worth that kind of money."
"Huh?"
Emlyn was dumbfounded. "Then what do we do?"
"But as long as you help ," Edward continued, "I can give her to you in advance. As for the rest, you can either pay back slowly or work it off by helping with a few things later on."
"What kind of things?" Emlyn asked warily, though he couldn't stop himself from glancing at Edward's pouch over and over again.
Edward raised a finger. "First, I need a cursed item from an Ancient Wraith. I found out there's a castle near Backlund where two such wraiths reside. But that castle…it seems to have been built by your kind—the Sanguines."
"A castle built by us?" Emlyn frowned in thought. "I haven't heard of it, but I can go ask around for you."
"Great. Let know as soon as you hear anything. Here's how to reach my ssenger."
"Got it. I'll go now."
Emlyn turned to leave, but after only a few steps, he suddenly spun back around and asked, "Can I see Alicia one more ti?"
"....."
———
After Emlyn left, Edward chuckled. "So, what do you think? Isn't this vampire kinda funny?"
Audrey hesitated for a mont before replying, "Mhm, his personality is amusing...but his hobbies...are definitely hard to describe."
"Hahahahaha."
The two of them strolled down the street a bit longer, chatting about their recent experiences. Then Edward suddenly shifted the topic.
"I think I'll head for Bansy early tomorrow morning."
"So soon?"
"Yeah. I want to find an opportunity to finish digesting my potion and advance to the next Sequence as soon as possible."
The ssage from the Snake of rcury yesterday had weighed heavily on Edward. Even though he knew that ascending a few Sequences wouldn't help him stand a chance against that giant serpent, at least it would bring him so peace of mind.
"Are you letting Mr. Azik send you again?"
"Nope. I'll take a passenger ship this ti."
The journey to Bansy was relatively short, and Edward didn't want to use up any more of the favour he owed Azik for borrowing the Creeping Hunger.
Audrey's expression turned a little nostalgic.
"When I was little, what I looked forward to most every year was taking a ship south for vacation. Sadly, Father's gotten busier over the years, and we haven't travelled as a family in a long ti."
"You used to take passenger ships too?"
She shook her head. "No, we had our own."
"….."
Shouldn't have asked.
Just then, Audrey's eyes lit up mischievously as she looked at Edward. "I want to go with you!"
"Eh?"
"Last ti I used the door key and whoosh—I was in Bayam. I didn't get to experience the journey at all. I want to make up for that this ti."
She clasped her hands behind her back and bead. "Besides, with the Vanishing Cabinet, I can travel back and forth between the ship and Backlund anyti I want. For , being anywhere is basically the sa!"
Huh...that kind of makes sense.
And since this was a passenger ship, the two-to-three-day journey should be relatively safe.
"But…I only booked a single room."
"Are you dumb? I just said I'll be going ho every day."
Edward made a face like he'd had a sudden epiphany. "Oh. Right."
Audrey giggled. "Were you planning sothing naughty?"
Edward imdiately put on a face of pure innocence. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
———
[Empress Borough—Inside the luxurious Hall family villa]
Audrey felt today had been full of exciting experiences.
She t a revered giant priest, saw a legendary vampire—who, according to Edward, was a total "two-dinsional shut-in nerd."
And...she was sneaking off to sea with Edward! Even though she'd be ho every night, she couldn't stay away for too long. Surely her parents would notice sothing!
She couldn't help but wonder what they'd think when the ti ca…
"You're back, Audrey."
Susie erged from the shadows, wagging her tail.
"Did anyone co looking for ?"
"Yes."
Susie nodded. "Soone delivered an invitation."
"An invitation?"
Audrey opened the envelope Susie passed her.
"Lady Norma invited to a ball tomorrow night?" She was a mber of the Psychology Alchemists...and Edward had told her to steer clear of that organisation for now.
After thinking for a mont, she pulled out a piece of stationery and wrote a reply:
Dear Lady Norma,
I was delighted to receive your invitation, and I'm truly eager to learn more about psychology. However, I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I may have to miss this gathering. I apologise.
Folding the letter neatly, she tucked it into a gold-embossed envelope and handed it to Susie.
"Susie, could you give this to Annie and have her send it back to Lady Norma?"
"Of course."
Audrey then began packing her things for the "trip." Even though she'd be coming ho every day, how could a girl go out without any luggage?
Sitting nearby, Susie tilted her head curiously. "Audrey, are you going on a long journey?"
"Sort of."
"You seem really happy about it."
"Of course I am. Who wouldn't be happy going on a trip?"
"A trip? With Edward and Lilith?" Susie wagged her tail eagerly. "Can I co along too?"
Audrey was montarily stunned, then nodded. "I think…that should be fine."
"Great!"
Susie instantly spun around in delighted circles.
——
anwhile, in another wing of the Hall family's luxurious villa.
Earl Hall was sitting in his study, smoking while going over the bank's financial reports.
Soon, his eldest son Hibbert knocked and stepped inside, wearing a conflicted expression and hesitating as he spoke, "Father…it looks like Audrey is packing her luggage."
"???"
Earl Hall looked up in surprise. "Where is she going?"
Hibbert shrugged. "You told not to investigate further…So, I don't know."
The slightly chubby earl stood up, sucking hard on his cigarette as he frowned and muttered, "His Excellency Anthony said that Audrey's friend is a Blessed of the Goddess and advised not to overly restrict their interactions. I've tolerated her running off every now and then, but…"
He forcefully stubbed out the half-finished cigarette in the ashtray. "This ti it's really too much! Even if it's the Church of the Evernight…even if it's the G—Goddess "Herself", I can't just sit back and watch my daughter run off with so man!"
"Then…what should we do?"
Hibbert was also full of frustration. He had protected his sister like a princess since they were little, and now it felt like she was being taken away under his nose—yet he could do nothing about it.
It was stifling!
"Hmph!"
Earl Hall made a swift decision. "Find out where she's going. Then…act accordingly depending on the situation."
"Understood."
———
Wednesday morning. Overcast skies.
The sky outside was dark and heavy, and rolling waves surged in from the black horizon, crashing against the shoreline with loud splashes.
This was Pritz Harbour, the largest and busiest port in the Kingdom of Loen.
A massive passenger ship was docked at the port, and workers were busily loading cargo onto it. This was the ship Edward was about to board: The Erald, a cruise liner.
Most people choose this vessel for vacation cruises rather than just transportation.
Structurally, the ship wasn't that different from a pirate or military vessel—it had both chimneys and sails. On either side of the hull were rows of cannons and firing ports, ant for fending off pirates.
The Erald's destination was the Southern Continent, with stops along the way at Bansy Harbour, Bayam, and other islands for resupply.
Edward, holding Lilith in his arms, followed the crowd onto the ship.
"Edward, are we taking a boat again?"
Lilith wore a disgruntled expression. She still rembered that awful night of seasickness—that feeling of standing on four paws yet swaying as though on cotton, unable to find stable footing.
Miss Lilith did not like it!
"Mmm…this ship should be much better. It's big and steady, almost no different from being on land."
"Really?"
She blinked at him, clearly sceptical.
Edward raised his hand in a solemn vow. "Really. If I'm lying, I'll eat a mouse."
"!!!"
That instantly convinced Lilith. After all, she knew just how much her big cat hated eating mice.
But then she beca conflicted…
If she did get seasick, wouldn't she get to see Edward eat a mouse? Then he'd realise how delicious they were! And maybe after that, he'd always eat them with her!
Her eyes sparkled as the thought delighted her.
———
One hour later.
Audrey and Susie erged from Edward's satchel, only to discover that the ship hadn't departed on ti.
"Eh? Wasn't it supposed to leave at 8:45?"
She stepped out to the balcony and looked toward the docks with a puzzled expression.
Edward, sitting on the sofa petting Lilith, was just as confused. "I'm not sure either. They said there was a last-minute notice delaying the departure."
Though he had booked a single room, it was one of the luxury suites on the upper deck, complete with a living room, a balcony, and a bedroom—quite spacious.
At that mont, Susie finally clambered up and greeted them cheerfully. "Hello, Edward! Hello, Miss Lilith!"
"Oh? Susie ca too?"
Audrey turned and smiled. "I always leave her behind to watch the house—this ti I figured I'd let her see the world a bit."
Lilith gracefully padded over to Susie and asked in a soft voice, "Susie, can you read?"
Susie hesitated for a few seconds, then shook her head. "Nope."
Lilith imdiately lifted her chin in pride. "Miss Lilith can."
"Wow, amazing!"
"Of course!" Lilith's tail curled high in satisfaction. "Want to learn? Miss Lilith will teach you."
"Yes, please!"
The two little ones imdiately huddled together, whispering and giggling.
"How do you plan to spend these few days at sea?"
Audrey's green eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Edward.
"Mmm, if it were just , I'd probably entertain people by giving astrological readings—helps roleplay the Astrologer."
"That actually sounds quite fun! I'll be your assistant!"
"Huh?"
She smiled smugly. "Don't forget, I'm a Telepathist. I can instantly tell what most normal people are thinking."
"Oh, right."
In his previous, non-Beyonder life, those so-called fortune tellers usually needed a bit of psychology and cold reading skills to pull off their tricks, didn't they?
"Alright then, Assistant Audrey—what will you disguise yourself as?"
"Hmm…sa as yesterday's look."
"Okay!"
Edward turned to Susie, who was "attentively listening" to the conversation. "Susie, what kind of dog do you want to turn into?"
"?"
She looked up blankly, then looked over at Audrey, finally letting out a bewildered, "Woof."
Audrey made the decision for her: "Let's make Susie a small dog. It'll be easier for her to move around the ship."
"Got it."
Woooo—
At that mont, a loud steam whistle echoed across the port. Driven by steam and machinery, the Erald was finally about to set sail.
———
[Note]: Here's the Extra Chapter. Enjoy~ If you guys want one more tomorrow, we'd need to hit 605 Powestones. Go, VOTE!
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Link - (P)atre(o)n.c(o)m/ Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]
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